Emergency preparedness training slated

Tuesday

Dec 4, 2012 at 8:30 AM

COLDWATER ó Though Hurricane Sandy has come and gone, the devastation from this horrific storm is still being experienced by many families who live on the east coast.And as many of us in Michigan view the destruction that was left behind, we canít help but wonder "What if?" What if there was a disaster in our community? What if our homes or neighborhoods were destroyed? What would we do?The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency (CHA), along with other local Health Departments located in Allegan, Berrien, Barry, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo andVan Buren counties (Emergency Preparedness Region V), have been working on that very question ó what to do in the event of a mass catastrophe or a public health emergency in southwest Michigan.For several years, the 5th District Medical Response Coalition (a group of hospital personnel, health care providers, local public health practitioners and emergency management staff from southwest Michigan) have been meeting and planning for just such events. Plans have been formed, strategies have been identified, exercises have been conducted and now they need local community residents interested in serving as volunteers who are willing to be trained and deployed if and when a disaster strikes.To learn more about how to become a public health volunteer, attend this free training, the 5th District Medical Response Coalition Volunteer Reception, Tuesday, Dec. 11, from 11 a.m. to noon at the Lawrence Education Center, Borgess Hospital, 1501 Gull Road, Kalamazoo.This introductory training will provide specific information about Emergency Preparedness Region V and the 5th District Medical Response Coalition.In addition, participants will learn about the MI Volunteer Registry and how it can be used to notify and deploy volunteers in the event of a public health emergency or mass catastrophe.Those who canít make this training, and would still like to sign up to be a volunteer, can register at any time by going to mivolunteerregistry.org/ and completing the registration form.Or to learn more about public health volunteering opportunities, call the health departmentís emergency preparedness coordinator at 517-279-9561, ext. 120.